Scraper



jan; 7', 1941. L., BERNER A 2,227,433

SCRAPER Filedsept. 1'?, 19:58 4 sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNEY Jan. 7, 1941. L..BERNIER 2,227,433

' SCRAPER Filed spt. 17, 193s 4 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR L. BERNER Jan.7, 1941.

SCRAPER Filed sept. 17, 1953l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 55m/5, [N VNTOR ATTORNE Y Patented Jan. 7,V 1,941

UNITED STATES PATENT orner;

SCRAPER Leo Berner, Huntington Park, Calif., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Be-Ge Manufacturing and Welding Works, Gilroy, Calif., acapannaship comprising Albert G. Gurries and James A. BussertApplication september 17,193aseria1No-2aoAss a '1 claims. (orsi-126i Myinvention relates tol earth scrapers of the general type employed fordigging, scraping, and transporting earth for the purpose of levellingground, building roads, excavating, grading, etc.

My invention in its preferred form consists of a wheeled or wagonscraper `having a bowl and apron which have certain unique features ofcon-v struction and operation, and which uniquely cooperate to produce anew combination. Not only is mylinvention new in its entirety; but theseveral subcombinationsand elements thereof areA new and susceptible ofindependent use. I thereiore desire patent protection on my invention asa whole and also on its several subcombinations and elements as deiinedin the appended claims.`

` scraper is being pulled forwardly,V at whichtime the available poweris being used for that purpose.

It is a further object of my invention to providea scraper in which apreselected digging angle for the blade of the scraper may be maintainedfor anydeptli of cut. In my invention the digging eillciency of thescraper blade may be maintained for a light cut, heavy cut. or mediumcut.

It ls a still further object of my invention to provide a scraper inwhich the bowl is supported in substantially horizontal position in bothdigging andr carrying positions. vByvirtue of this feature of myinvention the bottom of the scraper will be substantially horizontalduringloading so that but a minimum of force is required to push theearth which has been removed by the blade rearwardly into the bowl.Furthermore, when the bowl is in carrying `position the earth is notdumped forwardly by any chang-e of the bowl from a substantiallyyhorizontal position.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a scraper inwhich the bowl is supported by a pair of link means which approximate aparallel structure whereby the bowl does not, to any material extent,change its horizontal position when moved into its various diggingpositions or into carrying position.

It is a. still further object of my invention to provide a scraper` inwhich the bowl is supported by link means pivotally connected to thebowl and to the frame of the scraper, and in which one of the link meansis operated to raise and Alower the bowl, and in which the other of thelink means is operated to move the bowl from its normal or horizontalposition into a dumped or tilted position 5 i Itfis a still furtherobject of my invention to provide a scraper in which there is nooverhead structure above the bowl. By virtue of this construction it ispossible to readily flll'the bowl from above, if desired. lo It isanother objectof my invention to provide a scraper which employs anapron adapted to cooperate with the bowl in order to carry the earthwhich is gathered in the bowl, which apron has a scooping action when itmoves toward bowl 15 closing position which enablesthe scraper to carry4 a larger'load.

It is another object of my invention to provide a scraper having a bowland an apron which may cooperate therewith in which the apron is iloat-20 ably supported by 'the frame of the scraper and is readily raised ifit is engaged by an obstruction during the operation of the scraper.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a scraper havinga bowl and an apron 25 which `cooperates therewith in which the apron isso supported that if during its movement into a. position to close theforward end of the bowl it engages an obstruction positioned forwardlyofthe scraper blade, it will either lift the obstruc- 30 tion into thebowl, thus enabling it to fully close, crit will be deflected from itsnormally closing path and move into a closing position by passing aboveand around the obstruction.

Another object of my invention is to provide 35 a, scraper having a bowland apron cooperating therewith in which the lip of the apron, when theapron is in a closed position, rests within the bowl and above the bladewhich is attached to the bowl.

It is a still further object of my inventionft o provide a scraperhaving a bowl and apron in which the apron is moved between open andclosed position and in which a cam means is employed for determining thepath of travel of the apron.v 5

It is a further object of my invention to provide a scraper as deilnedin the preceding paragraph in which the cam means includes two parts,one of which is associated with the frame, and the other of which isassociated with the apron. 50 and in which these parts may be separatedfrom each other so that the apron may float, if the apron or any partthereof engages an obstruction during either its opening or closingmovement.

It is another object of my invention to provide 55 a scraper having abowl and apron in which there is a common operating means for operatingthe apron and for dumping the bowl.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a scraper of thecharacter referred to in the preceding paragraph in which the commonoperating means can not move the apron toward closed position unless thebowl is in a normal position or in which the bowl can not be movedtoward a dumped position unless the apron is in an open position.

Other objects, features, and advantages of my invention will be referredto in the course of the following detailed description of a preferredform of my invention which I have chosen to describe and illustrate inorder that those skilled in the art may be taught howto practice myinvention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a preferred form ofmy invention.

Fig. 2` is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the apron whichconstitutes an important part of my invention and the various positionsthereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a unique valve which I employ in thehydraulic operating system of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the scraper in unloadedposition.

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the scraper in carrying position.

Fig. 'I is a view illustrating the scraper in dumped position.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the apronoperates when an obstruction lies forwardly of the blade.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, thescraper of my invention which I have chosen for the purpose ofillustration includes a frame having side beams I2, a rear transversebeam I4, and a forward or front transverse beam |5. The forward part ofthe frame is in an elevatedplane and consists of two horizontal beams I6which converge at their forward ends, and which are connected to thetransverse beam |5 by downwardly extending beams |1. The side beams |2project rearwardly of the transverse beam I4 and carry supporting wheelsI8. Projecting downwardly from the juncture point of the beams I6 is apedestal 20 which carries a front truck 2| having wheels 22.-

Extending forwardly from the truck 2| isa draft bar 23. This portion ofthe scraper constitutes the frame and earth engaging means whereby theframe may be moved over the surface of the ground.

The numeral 25 represents a bowl which is positioned between the sidebeams I2 and the rear and front beams I4 and I5. The bowl has a bottomand back wall 26 and a pair of parallel side walls 21. The forward lowerpart of the bowl 25 supports a transverse digging blade 28 which'isadapted to engage the earth and perform the digging or cuttingoperation, the earth passing rearwardly above the blade 28 and into thebowl 25.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the bowl between diggingpositions and carrying position, my invention provides a raising andlowering means. The raising and lowering means includes a cross-shaft 30which extends transversely of the frame II between the side beams I2 andjust to the rear of the front beam I5. Connected to the ends of theshaft 30 and inside the side beams I2 are arms 3| which constitute frontlink means. The rearward ends of the arms 3| are pivotally connected bypivots 32 to the forward lower part of the bowl 25. As shown in Figs. 1and 2, the arms 3| extend rearwardly outside the side walls 21 of thebowl 25 and the pivots 32 are supported by brackets 33 which are securedto the side walls 21. Connected to the central part of the shaft 30 andextending upward therefrom is an arm 35 to which a piston rod 36 ispivotally connected by means of a pivot 31. 'I'he piston rod 33 extendsto a hydraulic operating means which includes a piston 33 which operatesin a cylinder 33, the forward end of the cylinder 39 being pivotailyconnected at 4l f to a bracket 4|, the bracket 4| being secured to theforward part of the frame |I. Fluid conduits 43 and 44 are connected tothe rear and front ends of the cylinder 33 for the purpose of moving thepiston 33 either forwardly or rearwardly in the cylinder 39. Theseconduits may extend to the draft vehicle where they are associated witha control valve which controls the flow of fluid through the conduits 43and 44 in a conventional manner.

Cooperating with the front link means 3| in supporting the bowl 25 is a.rear link means 50 which includes links 5I on each side of the bowlwhich are pivotally connected at 52 to the rearward ends of the sidebeams I2, and which are pivotally connected at their forward ends bypivots 53 to the side walls of the bowl 25, there being suitablebrackets 54 for attaching the pivot to the side walls 21. The front linkmeans 3| and the rear link means 50 constitute a structure which in itsaction approximates the action of a parallel link system whereby thebowl is maintained in a substantially horizontal position when in itsvarious digging positions or in its carrying position.

'Ihe link means 50 incorporates a dump means or tilting means for thebowl whereby the bowl may be rotated on the pivots 32 from a horizontalor normal position into a tilted or. dumped position. such as is shownin Fig. '1. In the preferred form of my invention illustrated hereineach link 5| is provided in the form of a piston rod 55 connected to thepivot 53, a hydraulic cylinder 51 connected to the pivot I52, and apiston 58 within the cylinder 51 and' to which the rod 55 is connected.Conduite 50 and 5| are connected to the forward and rearward ends ofeach of the cylinders 51 whereby the piston may be moved in eitherdirection for the purpose of lengthening or shortening the length of thelinks 5| in order to accomplish the movement of the bowl between dumpedor tilted position or normal or horizontal position.

Adapted to cooperate with the bowl 25 is .an apron 55 which includes aforward and bottom wall 56 having a rearward lip 51 and side walls 58which extend rearwardly from the bottom wall 65 and which telescopewithin the side walls 21 of the bowl 25, and thus act' as an aligningmeans for the apron and bowl. The apron is suitably reinforced byupright reinforcing bars 59 and a transverse reinforcing angle 10. Theupper part of the apron is guided by a guide means, which is preferablyprovided in the form of a cross-shaft 13 which journals in bearings 14carried by the converging beams I5, and arms or links 15 secured "to theends of the shaft 13 and extending rearwardly to the upper part of theapron 55 where they are pivotally connected thereto by pivots 15 securedto the apron 55 by attachment flanges 11. The guide links 15 are tilldit,

BSU

u 2,227,433 `free to move pivotally with the shaft 1l and permit theapron 65 to be raised and lowered or pivoted around the pivot 15relative to the frame li. The guide means just described constitutes ameans which allows the apron to be raised or lowered or to pivotallymove'.

For the purpose of moving the apron forwardly and rearwardly, I providean operating Y means including a rod 80 pivotally connected at 8| to theforward part of the apron i5, a hydraulic cylinder-,32 pivotallyconnected at I3 to a cross-member 34 to the frame li, and a piston 8 5within the cylinder l2 to which the rod 80 is connected. Conduits 01 andI3 are connected to the rear and front ends of the cylinder whereby'fluid may be introduced or removed `inorder to move the piston in thecylinder and thus move the rod 80 back and forth, which in turn movesthe apron 65 forwardly or rearwardly.

For the purpose of guiding the apron through a predetermined path Iprovide a cam means which includes cam rollers 90 and cams 8|. The camrollers 90 are conveniently mounted to rotate on the cross-shaft 30 and'the cams 0| are mounted on the lower part of the apron 65. The forwardparts of the cams 9| are preferably welded directly to the wall 66, andthe rearward ends thereof are supported by brace members 92 which extendupwardy and are secured to the upper part of the wall 6B, thereinforcing bars 69, and the reinforcing angle 10. The cams 5l each havea cam surface 93which is adapted to engage a cylindrical surface 94 ofthe roller @il which cooperates therewith. Each cam surface 93 isprovided with a forward curved portion 95 which at its rearward endterminates in a peak 96, aV trough 91 formed by relatively planesurfaces 9B and 99, and a rearward peak i!) formed4 by the plane surface9S and a plane surface |0|. The cam surface 93 is so formed that the lip61 has a path of travelindicated by the dotted lines |03. When theoperating means of the apron is operated so as to move the apronv65`forwardly from theposition shown in Fig. 3 into' the position shown inFig. 1, the lip'61 follows the path |03. The pivot 8| follows `a pathindicated by dotted lines |04 and the i important part of my invention,as'will be more particularly pointed out during a discussion of theoperation of my invention. It is to be noted.A however, that when theapron is moved from the full line position as shown in Fig. 1 into thefull line position as shown in Fig. 3 the lip 61 moves downwardly andforwardly to a lowermost position, at which timethe apron is in aposition indicated by dotted lines |01, the lip 61 at this timeoccupying a position 61a. During further rearwardv movement of the apron65 the lip 61 moves upwardly and during the last part of its travelmoves forwardly, as indicated. so that the lip 61 may move into aposition withinthe bowl 25 and above the forward edge of 'the blade 2B.

The operating means for the apron and the dump means for the bowl-areconnected to a single control means so that the operator may operatethelapron and move the bowl between normal and tilted .positions by asingle operating lever.. As shown in Fig. 6 wherein I diagrammaticallyillustrate thecommon control means, the numeral H represents aconventional'fluid control valve whereby nuid may be delivered to eitherof the conduits Iii or lil and withdrawn through either of'rtheseconduits. The conduitY H5 is connected to the conduit Il of the cylinder 82 and is also connected 4to a conduit III which is in turnconnectedto conduits Il. one of which is extended to the forward part ofeach of the cylinders 51. The conduit i|1 is con'- nected to the conduit01 of the cylinder I2 and is also connected to conduits 5|, onev ofwhich is connected to the rear end of each Aof the cylinders 51.Provided in the conduit ||5 below the point `where thev conduitillconnects thereto is a control valve |20, and connected in the conduit:||1 below `the point where the conduit 81 is connected thereto is a,control valve |2i'. These control valves are of the same type and areillustrated in section in Fig. 4. Each of the valves includes a body|22v having a passage |23 in which a valve piston |24 is slick` able.This valvepiston is held in a central position by springs |25 and |25,and' when in this central position prevents the passage V|23 fromcommunicating with the passage |25. When the valve piston |24 is in theposition shown in Fig. 4, the conduit ||8 or Il] isout of communicationwith the conduit 5i or 8l, and no fluid can flow from one to the other.The spring |25 is' of such a strength that fluid pressure ofapproximately 250 lbs. in the conduit ||5 or ||1 is required to movethevalve leftwardiy to connect the passages |23 and |25 andvthus allowfluid to flow from the conduit H5 or H1 through the valve or |2| andinto the conduit 5| or 08. The spring |25, however, is made relativelylight so that a very small pressure, such as 2 lbs. pressure, will movethe valve piston $24 rightwardly to connect the passages |2|and |25 andallow fluid to flow through the valve.

I will now describe the operation of the scraper. In Fig. 5 I have shownthe parts in a normal elevated position in which the scraper isunloaded: The bowl is at this time in a raised position, the piston 3Qbeing moved forwardly in the cylinder-39. The apron I5 is in an open'-position which is a forward position, the piston being in a forwardposition in the cylinder l2. The'operator first moves the bowl into adigging position, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1 and by dottedlines 25a in Fig. 5. This is done by delivering fluid through theconduit 4 4 and withdrawing it through the conduit 42, 'thus moving thepiston 38 rearwardly in the cylinf der 39. During this movement the bowlis moved downwardly, being supported by |the front'and rear link meansy33 and 50, respectively, and -by virtue of the relationship betweenthese link means and the points of pivotal connection, the bowl 25 ismaintained in a generally horizontal posi-tion. Any depth of cut may beobtained by operating Ithe hydraulic-operating means, and regardless ofthe depth of cut the bowl will have approximately the same relativecutting position and the angle of the blade with respect to the groundwill not materially change for each cutting position. The scraper ismoved forwardly with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1 untilthe Ibowl is lled and at this time not only is Ithe bowl filled, butearth is piled in front of the bowl. The operator thenmoves the partsfrom the positions shown in Fig. l into carrying position, as shown inFig. 6. This is done by returning the bowl -25 to its original position,as shown in Fig. 5, and by moving the done by supplying uid through theconduit 88 and withdrawing it through the conduit 81, thus moving thepiston 85.rearwardly in the cylinder 82. As the apron moves rearwardlyit first moves downwardly into a lowermost position, as illustrated bydotted lines |01 in Fig. 3, and then moves upwardly and rearwardly vandat this time acts to scoop up the earth which is piled in fronrt of Itheblade 28, and in this way a relatively large load is carried in thebowl. This operation of moving the parts from digging to carryingposition may be performed by raising the bowl slightly, then moving theapron rearwardly, then again raising the bowl a slight amount, and againmoving the apron rearwardly an additional amount until Ithe bowl is in araised position and the apron is in a. rearward closing position Ifdesired, the bowl may be completely raised rst or the apron may be movedto closed position first in accordance with the particular materialbeing worked on.

When it is desired to dump the earth, the apron 65 is again moved intoopen position and the bowl is moved into a dumped position, as

shown in Fig. 7. This is accomplished by supplying iiuid through theconduits BI and withdrawing iiuid through rthe conduits in order to movethe pistons 58 forwardly in the cylinders 51. This swings the bowlaround the pivots 32 from normal position into dumped or tiltedposition. If it is desired to employ the blade 28 as a levelling means,the bowl may be lowered into a position indicated by dotted lines 25h ofFig. '7, at which time the load will be spread or levelled over theground.

The raising and lowering of the bowl 25 is accomplished independently ofthe operation of the apron 85 or of the dumping of the bowl, and thecontrol means for the hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement 38 and39 is independent of the control means for the apron and dumping means.The apron operating means and the dumping means, however, areinterrelated so that the apron can not be moved into a closed positionwhen the bowl is in a dumped position and so that the bowl can not bemoved into a dumped position unless the apron is in an open position.This interrelation of operation is accomplished as follows: When thecontrol means ||5 is operated to supply fluid through the conduit ||6and withdraw it through the conduit 1, fluid will first flow throughlthe conduit ||8 and the conduits 6U, thus forcing the pistons 58rearwardly in the cylinders 51 and -moving the bowl into and retainingit in anormal position. No fluid can be supplied .to the conduit 88until a relatively 4high pressure has been built `up in the forwardparts of the cylinders 51. In practice I find that 250 lbs. is thedesired pressure. After this pressure has been Ibuilt up the valve |20is then opened and fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 82,thus moving the piston 85 rearwardly. It will be seentherefore, that litis impossible to move .the apron in'to a closed position unless the bowlis in a normal or horlzontal position. When the control means ||5 isoperated to supply iiuid under pressure to the conduit I I1 and withdrawit through the conduit IIB, the fluid is first delivered through theconduit 81 to the cylinder 82 and the piston 85 is moved forwardly. Nofluid can be supplied to the conduits 6| until a high pressure has beenbuilt up in the conduit 81 and rearward part of the cylinder 82sufficient to move the piston 85 forwardly. `After this pressure hasbeen built up the valve |2| then opens and uid may be supplied throughthe conduits 6| to the rearward parts of the cylinders 51 and at thistime force the pistons 58 forwardly in order to move the bowl intodumped position.

The apparatus which I have heretofore described is a preferred form oimy invention, but it should beunderstood that my invention is notlimited to the details of construction shown and described but may beembodied in other forms, and my invention therefore should be construedin accordance with the statement of invention and the appended claims.During the course of the preceding description I have insertedexplanations and broadening statements with a view of defining the Itruebreadth of my invention, but my failure to 'do so in any particularrespect is not lto be construed as a disclaimer of any rights fwhi'ch Imay be entitled to over the prior art. The combination of my inventionin its entirety provides a superior structure, but various parts andsubcombinations of the whole of my invention might be eliminated andonly a part ofthe advantages and new results enjoyed. For example, theparticular bowl and control mechanism might be used with another type ofapron and control mechanism. The apron and control mechanism of -myinvention might be used with some other type of bowl and bowl mechanism.It is my intention to cover by the appended claims lthe 'combination asa whole and to separately claim all subcombinations or parts which arepatentably new and capable of use in a scraper other than that shownherein.

I claim as my invention:

1. A scraper including a wheel-mounted frame, a bowl supported by saidframe having a normal position and a dump position, an apron supportedby the frame to cooperate with the bowl at the front thereof and havingan open position and a closed position relative to 'the bowl,

apron moving means, bowl operating means to .move the same betweennormal and dump positions, and control connections between said movingmeans and operating means and including Imeans lto effect an apronclosing movement only if the bowl is in or below normal position and toeffect a ybowl dumping movement only after the apron is open.'

2. A scraper including a wheel-mounted frame, a bowl supported by saidframe having a normal position and a dump position, an apron supportedby the frame to cooperate with the bowl at the front thereof and havingan open position and a closed position relative to the bowl, apronmoving means, bowl operating means to move the same between normal anddump positions, and control connections between said moving means andoperating means and in'cluding means to effect an apron closing movementonly if the bowl is in or below a normal position and to effect an apronopening movement irrespective of bowl position; and to effect a bowldumping movement only after the apron is open.

3. A scraper including a wheel-mounted frame, a bowl supported by saidframe having a normal position and a dump position, an apron supportedby the frame to cooperate with the bowl at the front thereof and havingan open position and a closed position relative to the bowl, apronmoving means, bowl operating means .to move the same between normal anddump positions,.a,nd

fect an apron closing movement only when the bowl is in or below normalposition, to effect a bowl dumping movement only when the apron is open,and to effect a bowl return movement irrespective of apron position.

4, A scraper including a wheel-mounted frame,

i a bowl supported by said fra-me having a normal position and a dumpposition, an apron supported by the frame to cooperate with rthe bowl atthe front thereof and having an open position and a closed positionrelative to the bowl, apron moving means, bowl operating means to movethe ,same between nor-mal and dump positions, and control connectionsbetween said moving means and operating means and including means toeffect an apron closing movement only when the bowl is in or below anormal position and to effect anapron opening movement irrespective ofbowl position; and to effect a bowl dumping movement only when the apronis open and a return movement irrespective of apron position.

5. A structure as in claim 1, in which xthe apron moving and bowloperating means comprise separate hydraulic units, each including acylinder, conduits leading to and from the cylinders, a manual valveconnected to said conduits to control the flow to the cylindersalternately, and means including other conduits connecting the firstnamed conduits arranged with respect thereto and to Ithe cylinders sothat when the valve is operated to deliver fluid to the bowl operatingcylinder to tilt the same, such fluid will iii-st be fed to the apronmoving cylinder in a vdirection to open the same, and when the valve isoperated to deliver fluid to the apron moving cylinder to close, theapron, the fluid will first be fed to the bowl operating cylinder in adirection to return the bowl to or hold the same in a normal position.

6. A scraper including a wheel-mounted frame, a bowl supported by saidframe having a normal position and a dump position, an apron supportedby the frame to cooperate with the bowl at the front thereof and havingan open position and a closed position relative to the bowl, apronmoving means comprising a hydraulic unit including`l a cylinder, bowloperating means to move the same between normal and dump posi tions andcomprising a hydraulic unit including a cylinder, a iiuid feed conduitleading to that end of the apron cylinder which will cause Ithe apron tobe closed, a second uid feed conduit leading to that `end of the bowlcylinder which will cause 'the bowl to be tilted, a valve connected `tosaid conduits to alternately'control thefeed of fiuid therethrough, areturn conduit from the other end of the apron cylinder to the secondconduit intermediate its ends, a second return conduit from the otherend of the b'owl cylinder to the first conduit intermediate its ends,and means in the first and second conduits to cause the fluid, when thevalve is operated lto feed through either of such conduits, to thecorresponding cylinder to first feed to the other cylinder through thereturn conduit thereof.

'7. A structure as in claim 6, in which said last named means comprisesa relatively high pressure yleldable check valve in lthe first conduitbetween the apron cylinder and the point of connection of the secondreturn conduit, said first conduit opening toward said cylinder and asimilar clieck valve in the second conduit opening toward the bowlcylinder and interposed between said cylinder and the point ofconnection of the first return conduit with said second conduit.

LEO BERNER.

